More than 1,000 friends, fans, musicians and family members of Dallas musician Mike Scaccia assembled on Sunday for a service that both memorialized his passing and reinforced the tight-knit community that exists in the metal-rock world.

Scaccia, who gained fame playing guitar for bands such as Rigor Mortis and Ministry, died onstage on December 22 at the Rail Club in Fort Worth, when he collapsed mid-performance from a heart attack at age 47.

There was no mistaking his role as a guitarist at the Aristide Event Center in Mansfield, where the service was held. Flower arrangements were shaped like guitars, and three of his personal guitars were on display as a stand-in for his body. Because this service was open to the public, there was no viewing; a private event for friends and family took place on Saturday night.

The service incorporated a video/collage of images from Scaccia's life, with comments from his daughters and wife, Jenny, and members of his inner circle, including the other three players in Rigor Mortis.

Certain themes emerged: that the way he died — while playing guitar onstage — had a certain poetry; that he was modest and accessible; that he had a sly sense of humor; and that his final days were his happiest.

His daughter Sarah, who selflessly opened her Facebook page to the public so that fans could share her grief, led off with a reading of Dylan Thomas' poem "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night," then offered some informal comments about her father's passing.

"I never looked at my dad as a rock star, or as 'the greatest musician,' or a guitar god, but he was god to us because he was our dad," she said. "I've been getting photos and notes from all over the world, and it means so much that you all came out. Thank you so much for supporting him."

Casey Orr, who played bass for Rigor Mortis, declared that "Mike Scaccia will live forever," and the assembly applauded.

"He'll live in his band mates, his friends, his fans and other guitar players who will be inspired by what he did," he said. "We lost one of the greatest, most unpretentious rock stars and a one-of-a-kind talent. But he died doing what he loved, with his boots on, with his current favorite Les Paul in his hands."

Producer Kerry Crafton said he felt lucky to get to work on the first Rigor Mortis album, as well as the last: Rigor Mortis recently reunited and recorded a new album, Slaves to the Grave. Talent booker Jeff Liles shared an anecdote about a trip to Los Angeles he and Scaccia made after Rigor Mortis was signed by Capitol Records in 1986; when they endured an earthquake, the unflappable Scaccia sat back and laughed.

Scaccia's daughter Taarna sobbed as she recalled his passion for cooking, and the fact that she would never be able to watch a horror film or hear a guitar without thinking of him. And his wife closed the comments with a description of Scaccia as doting to their two toddlers and modest about his fame.

"He would warm up for live shows for six hours because he wanted every note to be perfect," she said. "He didn't want to be referred to as a rock star; he wanted to be known as a musician."